Maersk has announced the testing of a new fuel blend, consisting of e-methanol mixed with 10% ethanol, aboard the Laura Mærsk.
The vessel vessel, which in 2023 became the world’s first container ship to sail on methanol, is now evaluating this innovative fuel mix as part of efforts to explore different pathways toward achieving climate targets. According to Maersk, the E10 blend, made up of 90% e-methanol and 10% ethanol, has been bunkered to Laura Mærsk with the goal of understanding how ethanol performs in dual-fuel engines and whether it can be integrated into Maersk’s future fuel mix.
Furthermore, key parameters under investigation include ignition quality, combustion behavior, lubricity, corrosion and emissions, with particular focus on NOx emissions due to their environmental significance.
As explained, the current E10 fuel is expected to be consumed over the next month to month and a half, after which the findings will guide the next phase of testing. This research will support the broader goal of decarbonizing shipping by potentially expanding the availability and sourcing options for dual-fueled vessels across the fleet.